Read and listen.

Starbucks, summer,
and other things I
love about Britain
Mark Vanhoenacker, an American journalist who lives in
London, says the UK’s not just OK – it’s paradise. These are
some of his reasons...

Walking
Britain isn’t a good place for cyclists.
But for pedestrians it is wonderful.
When you walk on a zebra crossing,
all the drivers stop.

Banks
British banks are great – you do
everything online, and you don’t
pay when you take money out of
an ATM. And if you want to change
banks, the banks do all the work,
not you.

Drivers
The British are very polite when they
drive. They don’t hoot, and they
are patient with other drivers. They
always say thank you when you let
them pass.

English File third edition Elementary • Student’s Book • Unit 3A, p.21 © Oxford University Press PHOTOCOPIABLE
 Boots the Chemist 2

Chemists in the UK are wonderful,

friendly shops and completely different
from US pharmacies. Boots sells
everything you want, not just medicine,
and the shop assistants give you good
advice.

No ID Cards
Britain is one of the only places in the
world where people don’t have ID cards.
In the US you need ID when you buy a
drink, go to a club, use a credit card, or
take an intercity train.

Summers
I love British summers! A good summer
day in Britain is dry and warm, but not
very hot.

Starbucks
Starbucks isn’t British, of course, but I
prefer the Starbucks in Britain. They are
nice, friendly places where people read
the newspaper and drink good coffee.
And the waiters don’t write your name
on the cups – I feel stupid in America
when the waiter calls ‘Mark, your tall
cappuccino with extra chocolate!’

English File third edition Elementary • Student’s Book • Unit 3A, p.21 © Oxford University Press PHOTOCOPIABLE